Question:
Hi, Im new to the board, but I needed to get some help on a very important issue that Im dealing with. Heres the deal, Ive had a full bread Maine Coon for 8 years and it lives with my parents now that Im married and moved into my new home. My wife and I wanted to purchase a full breed Maine Coon MALE kitten so I did a search on the internet, looking for a breeder that had kittens available. Well there were no local breeders, so I found an adorable blue tabby kitten on a breeder's site that was going to be ready for a home in a couple weeks.
Well, it was my fault to begin with for not doing my research, but I trusted the breeder and all the cats and kittens on her site looked very healthy and adorable. So I paid for the kitten and had it sent to me via plane from Texas to Jersey. The kitten arrived under weight and looked a little unhealthy. Well the kitten I picked out was supposed to be a male and it even said male on all the paper work, but a week after I had it, I realized it was a female. I called the breeder and told her I wanted my money back and I would send the kitten back once she gave me the airfare to do so. She insisted that instead of giving my money back that she would send me a free kitten from her next litter, so I said that would work.
Well, I picked out a beautiful looking male kitten and it arrived 2 weeks ago. Now, heres where the trouble started. It showed up extremely under weight, looked very sickly, had ear mites, fleas, and had a big patch of hair missing from behind it ear. I checked the health certificate and the vet mentioned the ear mites and that he had a fever but still signed off on it. Well, 2 weeks later, I was able to get rid of the ear mites, he put a little weight on, but he has ring worm which started getting bad, there are patches of hair missing all over the place. Ive had him on meds for the ring worm for about 5 days now and it doesnt seem to be helping, I feel so bad for the little guy.
I called the vet in texas that signed the health cert and he told me that she had never seen the breeder before and that he signed the cert but told her that the cat didnt look that good, was under weight and shouldnt be sent to its new home yet. He was very nice and has helped me with curing the ring worm.
Something needs to be done about this breeder and since Im new to this, I dont know how to go about reporting her. She hasnt returned my last email about the ring worm, but answered the one before that just stating that she didnt notice the missing patch of hair when she sent it.
What should I do, Im extremely worried that she is not taking care of her cats and kittens, and something needs to be done or looked into. What do you suggest I do?
Thankyou for any help you can give.
Answer:
As a "mom" to three shelter rescued cats, it is hard for me to feel much sympathy for you, but I definetly feel sad for the kittens. Sounds like you are dealing with a cattery, which are legal. The only thing you can really do is report the cattery to the better business bureau and the animal control agency in the city where the cattery is located. Unfortunately, nothing will probably be done. There is even a good possibility that your cats are inbred and will show behavioral and physical problems as they age.
For everyone out there thinking of purchasing a purebred cat from a breeeder, please take this as a warning. Especially purchasing animals over the internet is extremely dangerous, to your money and to the animal. Air travel is not safe for animals, especially unescorted animals. Choosing an animal based on appearance via a picture is also a huge issue. Going to your local animal rescue shelter is far better. You will get a huge choice of cats and kittens, pay a much smaller adoption fee than the cost of purchasing a purebred and, most likely, get a much healthier animal. The shelter will help you choose an animal that has a disposition suitable to what you enjoy, rather than hoping for the best by choosing a cat from a picture. Shelters will also get purebred animals in and some shelters will allow you to be placed on a waiting list for the breed you are specifically looking for.
On a more personal note: My cat Chloe, a DLH black cat, was a rescue shelter kitten when I adopted her. When I adopted her, she had earmites and was a rather pitiful looking kitten, but she grew into a gorgeous cat with long, silky black hair and gorgeous gold eyes. The day after I adopted her, I went back to the shelter to adopt one of her siblings and was today that they had all been eunthanized that morning--it still makes me sad to think that other cats that could have been as sweet and gentle as Chloe were killed while people purchased purebred cats just for looks. I am proud that I saved Chloe--she is 14 years old and going strong. When the time comes for her to pass on--I will know that she lived a long, happy life because I chose to adopt a cat rather than buy from a breeder.
Answer:
I would possibly try to call animal controll where this woman lives and try to get them to investigate. If the two kittens were in poor shape lord knows there were probably others that were worse. Good luck with your babies, I hope they grow to be healthy and happy.
~Beth
Answer:
How much did you pay for the cat?
Like others have said before, you cannot buy an animal over the internet. Animals can not be mass-manufactured, they have physical variations and different personalities. Buying an animal from the internet is like pulling an animal out of a grab bag. Also, pictures could be easily photoshopped and you don't even know if the breeder copied the picture from another website to begin with. A lot of people just copy pictures from other websites and pretend the cats are theirs.
That being said, four out of five of my cats were HORRIBLE looking when they were kittens. With good quality canned kitten food all of them grew up to be good-looking cats. I am sure your kittens will turn out fine with some TLC.
Married for one year. Three male cats. Three female cats.
Answer:
i guess i have strong beliefs on this subject. i feel sorry for your kitttens but i think you should have known better. im sure youve heard all the stories of people being ripped off online, why should the animal trade be any different?
Not just that but why buy a cat from a breeder when there are thousands out there desperate for love and care. some with horrific stories to tell,
for exaple -
Mac, a small kitten that, at 5 weeks old was thrown into red hot tarmac, he was almost burned to death had it not been for a quick thinking builder.
or
poppy, a small kitten that had her toes cut off and her legs brioken, Ging who was shot in the shoulder....
perhaps the worst one was Bertie. i was due to adopt him but he was euthenised the day befor i got him. he had been left in a house with 52 other cats, all inbred. with no food or water they had turned cannibal when they found bertie part of his face and shoulder had been eaten off bybthe others. but he survived till peritonitis killed him.
In a perfect world id shut down all breeders untill every abused and mistreated cat. dog, budgie was adopted to a worthy home. For me, while there is an animal in a shelter in need of me ill never ever buy from a breeder.
Cusiostiy is the very basis of education. If you said curiosity killed the cat, id say the cat died nobly.

Answer:
Just a reminder to our members -- I think that Linx feels badly as it is, so please let's keep the responses kind and try to offer assistance instead of criticisms.
Have you looked to see if there is a larger association of Maine Coon breeders? If so, perhaps they can offer some assistance. You might also see if there is a consumer protection authority in Texas that can help. Let us know what happens. I'll think about it and let you know if I have any other ideas for you.
Best of luck with your kitties. I hope you have some success taking care of their health problems and getting recourse with the breeder.
Owned by Pepper and Pumpkin RIP Snickers 8/22/00 -- 11/28/06
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/

Answer:
lilaccat3456 wrote: As a "mom" to three shelter rescued cats, it is hard for me to feel much sympathy for you, but I definetly feel sad for the kittens. Sounds like you are dealing with a cattery, which are legal. The only thing you can really do is report the cattery to the better business bureau and the animal control agency in the city where the cattery is located. Unfortunately, nothing will probably be done. There is even a good possibility that your cats are inbred and will show behavioral and physical problems as they age.
For everyone out there thinking of purchasing a purebred cat from a breeeder, please take this as a warning. Especially purchasing animals over the internet is extremely dangerous, to your money and to the animal. Air travel is not safe for animals, especially unescorted animals. Choosing an animal based on appearance via a picture is also a huge issue. Going to your local animal rescue shelter is far better. You will get a huge choice of cats and kittens, pay a much smaller adoption fee than the cost of purchasing a purebred and, most likely, get a much healthier animal. The shelter will help you choose an animal that has a disposition suitable to what you enjoy, rather than hoping for the best by choosing a cat from a picture. Shelters will also get purebred animals in and some shelters will allow you to be placed on a waiting list for the breed you are specifically looking for.
On a more personal note: My cat Chloe, a DLH black cat, was a rescue shelter kitten when I adopted her. When I adopted her, she had earmites and was a rather pitiful looking kitten, but she grew into a gorgeous cat with long, silky black hair and gorgeous gold eyes. The day after I adopted her, I went back to the shelter to adopt one of her siblings and was today that they had all been eunthanized that morning--it still makes me sad to think that other cats that could have been as sweet and gentle as Chloe were killed while people purchased purebred cats just for looks. I am proud that I saved Chloe--she is 14 years old and going strong. When the time comes for her to pass on--I will know that she lived a long, happy life because I chose to adopt a cat rather than buy from a breeder.
First of all, I dont appreciate you stating that you dont have much sympathy for me, I am an extreme animal lover and have a total of 4 cats. 2 all black DLHs that I rescued and now I have the 2 pure breeds. Guess what, if no one purchases the cats off the breeder I would think that they would end up in a shelter anyway. I understand what you are saying, but I do believe that since I did rescue 2 cats that I would think that purchasing 1 full breed Maine Coon, which was what I wanted since I had one in the past and love their personality and not just looks, that would be ok. Sorry that I couldnt help you rescue the rest of the kittens, but that is life.
Answer:
Hi Linx - I'm sorry to hear that you have had some bad experiences with the breeder you selected, most importantly I hope that your kitties recover and settle in with you soon.
I'm in the UK so things are a bit different but my Mum is a breeder and I recently bred my bengal. Sadly you have learned the hard way about selecting a breeder online and not researching and going to visit the kittens in their breeders environment so I think you have to chalk that up to experience, if you need advice on that in the future should you get another kitten there are many people here who will be able to give you good advice.
All that aside however in the UK, pedigrees and breeders are registered with an organisation called the GCCF (Cat Fancy) - do you have something similar to that in the US? If you do, I think they would be the place I would go for advice. I know I have seen bulletins from the GCCF over here when people have been reported for cruelty, selling kittens who have not been properly vetted etc. You never know, perhaps others have also made complaints and the very least that should happen is that these people are investigated fully.
Best of luck.
...and all kitties are precious, regardless of where you got them from, sounds to me like they were in need of you rescuing them anyway
Stephie
Answer:
lymekaps wrote: Just a reminder to our members -- I think that Linx feels badly as it is, so please let's keep the responses kind and try to offer assistance instead of criticisms.
Have you looked to see if there is a larger association of Maine Coon breeders? If so, perhaps they can offer some assistance. You might also see if there is a consumer protection authority in Texas that can help. Let us know what happens. I'll think about it and let you know if I have any other ideas for you.
Best of luck with your kitties. I hope you have some success taking care of their health problems and getting recourse with the breeder.
Thankyou lymekaps, I appreciate it. In my original message I admitted that it was my mistake to begin with, I take full credit for that, but that is done and over with now. Like I said, this was my first time, ever, purchasing a cat from a breeder. All of my other cats have been rescued, and another cat that I keep at my mothers house was found in a trash can outside my vets office. So, hang me for wanting to purchase a full breed cat, I cant believe the responses Ive gotten here, very disappointed.
The entire reason for this thread was to report a breeder that is not taking care of her cats and needs to be reported, and not knowing how to go about it I thought I would ask for some help. Now, instead of scolding me for purchasing a cat from a breeder, maybe you should help me out and possibly put an end to this breeder mistreating her cats and kittens. You are all telling me that you saved all these cats that you have and how your so proud of yourselves for doing so, well, now help me put an end to the mistreatment that is going on with this breeder before something happens to some of her kittens that she is breeding. Thankyou for anyone that is trying to help, and for everyone else that would rather jsut let her go on with treating her kittens like nice and having them get sick, keep that in the back of your minds when you look at your own cats that you have rescued.
Answer:
I would definitely contact the SPCA or something like that where the "breeder" is located and see what references they can give you, too.
Good luck -- how are the kitties doing now?
-Crystal-
Wife to Erik; Mommy to Tink, Minnie, Jazmine, Trixie, Figaro, and Nala
2 down, 1 to go...

Answer:
You need to find out with what registry this cattery is registered. If the owner would recognize you by voice or email address, have a friend find out for you. Report her to that organization, the Humane Society in her town, and the Better Business Bureau. I believe there is also an organization that governs online transactions. I believe a small claims court would have jurisdiction. By all means, have your vet prepare a thorough report on the cat's condition. Good luck.
Jeanie
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/
A dog, I have always said, is prose; a cat is a poem. ~Jean Burden
Answer:
Jeanie wrote: You need to find out with what registry this cattery is registered. If the owner would recognize you by voice or email address, have a friend find out for you. Report her to that organization, the Humane Society in her town, and the Better Business Bureau. I believe there is also an organization that governs online transactions. I believe a small claims court would have jurisdiction. By all means, have your vet prepare a thorough report on the cat's condition. Good luck.
Wow, good info, Jeanie!
-Crystal-
Wife to Erik; Mommy to Tink, Minnie, Jazmine, Trixie, Figaro, and Nala
2 down, 1 to go...

Answer:
At least you got two kittens sent to you. It could be much, much worse. The cattery could post pictures of cats that they don't own and could simply stiff you.
I bet the kittens are adorable, no matter what
Married for one year. Three male cats. Three female cats.
Answer:
What’s with all the hostility? I own two pure breed Bengals and I do not find anything wrong with that. In fact, I congratulate those who do own a pure breed. I see it this way, cats should be no different then dogs, and they should be licensed, registered, and sold from breeders, just like dogs. This way you know what you cat is and what to expect from its breed. Even dogs at shelters, for the most part you can tell what the dog is, even if it doesn’t have paper. There is a clear difference between a Boxer, a Lab, a Border Collie and a Pug etc . . . Cats should be no different. Yes I do feel for those kitties in shelter, but if it weren’t for irresponsible pet owners in the first place we wouldn’t have this huge problem – spay and neuter your pet and don't get a pet unless you can care for it! In fact many good breeders will spay and neuter and sometimes microchip before the cat is allowed to leave the cattery. At the very least the kitten should have it's frist set, if not two sets of shots, be vet checked and come with a health guarantee.
Now as far as the bad breeder goes, unfortunately it happens there are just some stupid bad people. But for those honest folk, the internet provides a great marketing tool and since pure breed cats are “rare” it allows a prospective buyer to find that special kitten. Both of my cats were purchased over the internet and I drove 4 hours to pick them up because there were no breeders in the area for the specific breed I was looking for.
I’m sorry to hear of your situation, lucky for me I had a good experience with the two breeders I dealt with and I still stay in contact with them. They are always happy to receive photos of the cats as they grow and are interested in their well being and health. They are readily available to me by phone or e-mail if I have a question as any good breeder should be.
I would start by finding out what registry the breeder belongs to. Here are a few common to USA and Canada: CCA, CFA, TICA, ACFA, AAC, CFF and reporting the breeder to them. If the breeder didn’t belong to one of these or a similar association then you may be dealing with a backyard breeder and that would be a whole different situation.
Also, many, if not all of these registries have a YAHOO! E-mail group you could sign up for. As well, many pure breeds have their own YAHOO! group specific to that breed. Others even have their own club. You could sign up for these groups and clubs and post and e-mail about your experience with this breeder. You will likely find that other Maine Coon owners and especially reputable breeders will want to help you because they also have a strong passion for the breed and have an interest in keeping their business alive and do not tolerate dirty business like this.
Good luck and again I am sorry, but I think it’s awesome to own a pure breed cat and I wish there were more people who agreed with me.
Cheers
HK
Answer:
I don't think anybody is against owning purebreds. People are more against buying cats from the internet.
Married for one year. Three male cats. Three female cats.